Hydraulic control for stoker motors



July 30, 1940.

J. F. TURNER ET AL 09,429 HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR STOKER MOTORS Filed Dec. 17, 1936 KShets-Sheep 1 July 30, 1940. J. F. TUI QNER 'ET AL HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR STOKER MOTORS Filed Dec. 17, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 30, 1940- J. F. TURNER ET AL 2,209,429

HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR STOKER MOTORS Filed Dec. 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w 314 001 x-lou) mm, at, H mm Patented July 30, 1940 HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR STOKER MOTORS James F. Turner and Christian P. 'Breidenbaugh, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Flynn & Emrich- Company, Baltimore, Md., a. corporation-of Maryland Application December 17, 1936, Serial No. 116,293

13 Claims.

, The invention relates to a combined hydraulic control and stoker motor or engine operated by steam or other equivalent fluid, as air or gas pressure and referred to hereinafter for convenience as a steam engine or stoker motor. The motor and control as herein disclosed are particularly adapted for use in operating a fuel feeding ram in connection with an under feed stoker, but are capable of more general application.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient and reliable hydraulic control which cooperates with a steam engine or motor in such a way as to provide a dwell or pause for definite periods between strokes, the length of the periods being regulated to time the stoking operation in correspondence with the load and the amount of power required.

The control includes a hydraulic motor which operates valve means which determines the admission of steam to the steam engine and its exhaust therefrom and this engine drives the ram or other type of stoker or fuel feeding mechanism it being of importance that the hydraulic fluid is independent of the fluctuations of pressure incident to the steam supply obtained from a steam boiler heated by coal or other similar solid fuel, and that a hydraulic control in connection with a steam-operated ram gives all the advantages of full hydraulic operation without the disadvantages.

In the preferred form shown both the hydraulic control motor and the steam engine are of the reciprocating type each having a cylinder and a piston therein and the hydraulic motor valve means is operated in time with the steam piston, being opened and closed in direct correspondence with the strokes of the steam piston and ram or other stoking device, and to the best advantage at the end of the stroke. The adjustment of the periods between strokes is most conveniently accomplished by controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor by throttling or otherwise.

Hydraulic fluid, that is liquid, as water, has important advantages as a time control agent for a periodic steam motor in the operation of a fuel-feeding ram on account of its incompressibility and the consequent absence of expansion, contraction and condensation. The flow of the hydraulic fluid and the operation of the hydraulic motor, which is a feature of this apparatus, being much more accurately controlled in this periodic operation and through a greater range, with a greater degree of accuracy than is obtainable with steam or compressed air, or any other gas which can be used for this purpose. An important advantage of the'hydraulic control is that the motionof thehydraulic piston isin direct proportion to the admission of the hydraulicfluid to the cylinder, which is subject to minute and accurate control, there being no expansion, contraction, or condensation incident to throttling, and no perceptible change of volume of the hydraulic fluid with such changes of temperature as may occur. f

' It isalso of interest that while water under pressure is 'available in substantially all steam plants and steam power is available at a minimum of expense for the operation of the fuel feed under these circumstances, the hydraulic control of a steam operated ram is new practice. While the hydraulic feature is of importance,

certain features and details of the invention are independent of the nature'of the control fluid. An important object of the invention is to utilize, in the operation of 'a' stoker rain, the steam power which is present in all steam generating plants, and to obtain, without consumption of the large quantitie's of water necessary to hydraulic operation, the exact timing in the intermittent, or deferred operation of the ram which has previously been obtainable only with the hydraulic drive.

The improved construction also contemplates a provision for the instantaneous opening of the hydraulic valve to full operative position giving a full and uniform flow' of the hydraulic fluid throughout the stroke of the hydraulic piston contributingto the exact and uniform regulation of the dwell periods.

The invention further provides an adjustment of the timing-of the hydraulic valve so that it may be timed as. found most effective to open and close at or near the extreme ends, of the strokes of both the hydraulic piston and the steam or other fluid operated piston connected to the ram or stoker, giving in what is considered the preferred adjustment, a full length stroke of both said pistons and uniformity of operation at each stroke. The invention in the preferred form also comprises an actuating means for the steam or fluid control valve which determines the admission of steam or other fluid to the cylinder of the stoker motor providing an instantaneous opening and closing of this valve so that steam or other fluid may be admitted at full'flow throughout the stroke of this piston further contributing to efficiency and uniformity at this time.

of operation and accuracy of regulation as to the operation of the ram or stoker.

The invention in the preferred form also provides a convenient means for reversing the operation of the ram by disconnecting the hydraulic valve from the steam piston and changing the position of the valve by hand, the connection from the hydraulic valve to the steam piston and ram being so arranged that it may be instantaneously disconnected and easily and quickly reengaged, without change of adjustment.

The invention further provides for quick and easy disengagement from the hydraulic control motor of the steam or other fluid motor valve which directly controls the strokes of the stoker motor permitting this valve to be moved by hand when an excess supply of fuel is desired either in building up the fire or banking it thus avoiding the time element of the hydraulic control This method of operation is also conveniently available for use in case of failure of the hydraulic power which operates the control. It operates without change or loss of ad justment. The. hydraulically controlled stoker motor of the invention is of simple construction,

. easy and convenient to operate, involving practically no expense in upkeep and requiring little attention It is particularly desirable in steam plants where steam power is easily available for operation of the stoker, water from the mains or other supply of liquid under pressure being a reliable source of regulation, easily capable of control for regulation purposes and highly dependable and accurate in its control of the time element between strokes of the stoker motor.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated so much of a fuel feeding ram, fuel hopper and furnace as is necessary to an understanding of the manner of applying the invention together with a steam or similar fluid energized ram piston and cylinder and a hydraulic control therefor embodying the features of the invention in the preferred form.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ram housing, the hydraulic control and the ram actuating cylinder, the latter being shown fragmentarily in section on a plane of the axis, exposing the piston therein, the illustration also including fragmentarily shown, a fuel feeding'hopper and furnace front in cooperative relation with the ram, said hopper and furnace front and part of the housing being broken away and shown in section on the plane of the first said section for convenience of illustration and disclosing the ram.

Figmre 2 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 in Figure 2, Figure 3 being illustrative of the hydraulic control cylinder, the hydraulic valve and the steam or other fluid valve which directly controls the stoker motor piston and cylinder, and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 in Fig. 3, showing in detail the manner of connecting the hydraulic piston rod to the steam valve lever providing for disconnection at will.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, the construction shown, which it is understood is capable of considerable variation without departure from the spirit of the invention, comprises, see Fig. 1, a furnace front I, the front end of the retort-2,

fuel hopper 3, fuel feeding ram 4, ram housing 5, containing a ram housing fuel feed passage 6 and ram guide cylinder 7 shown in broken lines.

The illustration also includes steam cylinder or Stoker motor cylinder 8 with the piston 9 therein which piston is actuated by steam or similar fluid under pressure. Steam being the fluid which is preferably used in this cylinder is supplied by way of steam pipe 10. The steam pipe I!) is connected to the valve chamber II by way of passage l2, said valve chamber and other parts of the ram actuating motor being for convenience referred to as steam operated and most conveniently so operated.

The valve chamber l l as shown is of cylindrical form having its axis at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of the piston and the axis of piston rod I4. Said piston rod is shown as directly connected to the ram 4. The valve chamber H has supply ports l5 and I6 and between them an exhaust port 51. The supply ports l5 and G6 are respectively connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder 8 by supply passages !8 and Hi and the exhaust port H is connected to the exhaust passage 20. These supply passages and ports also carry the exhaust.

Within the valve chamber H is an oscillating steam valve 2! which is best illustrated in Fig. 3. This valve is mounted on the valve shaft 22, being connected thereto by a key M, the valve having a considerable arc of lost motion relative- 1y to the shaft due to the excess width of the key slot 25 in said valve to be further described. The valve 2! has admission ports 28 and 2! and an intermediate exhaust port 28. It is oscillated in its operation by any suitable connection as steam valve actuating lever 29 which is secured to the end of valve shaft 22 outside the valve chamber casting 3E]. The steam valve actuating lever 29 is shown as connected in a manner to be further described to the end of the hydraulic piston rod 3!, the opposite end of said piston rod being secured to the hydraulic piston 32 within the hydraulic cylinder 33, best shown in Fig. 3.

The flow of hydraulic fluid to this cylinder is controlled and determined by the hydraulic control valve 34 in Fig. 3 which is mounted on and secured to the hydraulic control valve shaft 35 in the hydraulic control valve chamber 36. The valve chamber 36 has supply ports 37 and 38 and an exhaust port 39, the supply ports being directly connected to supply passages '30 and 41 leading to the opposite ends of hydraulic cylinder 33 and exhaust port 39 is connected to exhaust passage 42. The supply ports and passages also carry the exhaust.

The valve 3 1 has supply ports 43 'and 44 and exhaust port 15 and valve chamber 38 is connected to a supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure by the pipe 46 controlled by throttle valve 4? which may be operated manually by way of hand wheel 48 or any suitable automatic control as desired, automatic controls suitable to this purpose being well known.

The hydraulic control valve 3 is operated from the ram 1 or in reversing by hand by Way of the control valve operating lever 50 which is part of lever member 50 connected but not rigid- 1y secured to the valve shaft 35. The valve shaft 35 has directly secured thereto a collar or hub 5! which has projecting therefrom in a radial direction a dog 52 which extends into a cavity or loop 53 in the lever member 50'. This dog is engaged alternately on each side in the operation of the mechanism by adjusting screws or other members'54 and 55 which are threaded through the opposite sides of said loop in the direction of an are about the axis of shaft 35 as a center or otherwise in the path of dog 52. These adjusting screws determine the timing of thevalve 34 in relation to the ram and thepiston 8 and in proper adjustment, they time the operation of the valve 34 at the ends of the stroke of the pis' ton 32 and the operation of valve 2! at the ends of the stroke of the piston 9. The shaft and the dog 52 rigidly secured thereto are permitted to oscillate relatively to the lever member 59 in accordance with the adjustment of screws 54 and 55, the valve 34 being operated by lever member 58' through and by way of dog 52 as moved by contact therewith of screws 54 and 55 carried by said lever member- 59.

The member 59' may be connected to piston 9 to be operated thereby in any suitable manner. As shown, the lever 50" projecting oppositely from lever 58 from member 50' carries at its outer end a crank pin 56 which engages a downwardly disposed open slot 51 in a link 58 which is swingably connected at 59 to a depending arm 60 which is pivotally mounted at its upper end at SI On a bracket 62 which is secured to and projects upwardly from the ram. housing 5 or other suitable support, said arm 68 being provided with a series of holes 63 spaced in the direction of its length in which holes the wrist pin or pivot pin 59 may be seated being moved from one to the other for purposes of adjustment of the throw of the lever 50" and lever member 50'.

The arm 69 is forked at 54 at its lower end or otherwise formed to engage a pin 65 which projects laterally from the ram 4, or otherwise operated from piston 9.

The ram is also shown as provided with a downwardly projecting pin or arm 66 which passes through an eye or loop in the end of the.

secondary'ram or distributor rod 61 said eye or loop being indicated by reference character 68. The ends of said loop are formed by removable pins 69 and 69', the pin 69' being seated in one of a series of holes 18 and being moved from one to another for the purposes of adjustment of the lost motion of said rod 61 and hence of the length of its stroke. These elements are illustrative and not material to the invention.

The steam valve lever 29 has a handle or grip I5 providing for the hand operation of the valve, when excess coal supply is desired as already pointed out. To provide for the hand operation a convenient method of connecting or disconnecting the lever 29 from the hydraulic piston rod 3! has been provided. In accordance with the details shown which are not essential to the broader conception of the invention, the lever 29 is slotted transversely at 16 to admit the end of piston rod 3! which is connected thereto by means of a wrist pin I1 passed through the arm 29 on the two sides of the slot and through the end 18 of the piston rod 3| which is flattened at the end to enter the slot 16. The pin 11 has in the form shown for convenience of operation a knurled head 19 at one end and at the other end a portion of reduced diameter beyond which is a shoulder portion 8| of increased diameter as compared to the reduced neck 80. The neck 8!] is engaged in a slot 82 in a sliding plate 83 which is mounted in a suitable seat 84 in the back of the lever 29 said seat being open at its upper end where the plate 83 has a suitable over-hang 84" for engagement the length of the arm and at its lower end it has an enlarged portion 85, suflicient to pass the shouldered end 8| of the pin which is held in place by the plate, in the normal position of the plate, shown, by engagement of neck 88 in slot 82." To release the pin, the plate is operated by the over-hang 84' and slid upwardly until the enlarged end 85 of the slot 82'is in registration with the shoulder 8| when the pin is removed, providing for the operation of steam valve 2| by hand by means of lever 29, it being disconnected from the hydraulic control. This provides for relatively rapid feeding of fuel without changing the regulation of the control system and without waiting for the passage of the time intervals determined bythe hydraulic element.

In operation, the hopper being supplied with solid fuel as coal which is the fuel most frequently burned, steam or other fluid is supplied to the valve chamber II by way of the pipe I 9 and hydraulic fluid to hydraulic valve chamber 36 by way of pipe 46, the throttle valve 41 being set by hand or by automatic regulation to give the desired intervals between the strokes of the ram as hereinafter described.

It being assumed that the parts are in the located in the steam cylinder and moving to the right in Fig. 1 and the hydraulic piston of the hydraulic control element having just completed its stroke to the left end of the hydraulic cylinder; the hydraulic valve 34 is still in the position in which hydraulic fluid is exhausted from the left end of the cylinder 33 and admitted to the right hand end of said cylinder. The steam valve is admitting steam to the left .end of the steam cylinder and exhausting steam from the right. The dog 52 has just been" engaged by left hand adjusting screw 55 and is about to start to move valve 34 to its opposite position. As the steam piston 9 and the ram 4 move to the right, and the piston 9 and likewise the ram approach the right end of their stroke, the valve 341s moved as by the contact mentioned and oscillated counterclockwise from the position shown, the port 31 and supply passage 40 at the left which are now connected to exhaust passage 42 being first closed and then opened to the supply, and the passage 4] at the right which is now open to the supply being first closed and then connected to the exhaust 42.

The exacttiming of this operation is of.importance and in accordance with the preferred form as now practiced is determined in a general way by the adjustment at 59 and finally and accurately by the adjustment of screw 55, the motion in the opposite direction being timed by screw 54. The proper adjustment of these screws permits the piston 32 to move the full length of the cylinder 33 on each stroke likewise permitting the steam or ram piston 9 to move the full length of cylinder 8 and the ram to move the full length of its stroke. This adjustment may be determined by adjusting the initial opening of the valve 34 to take place when the piston '9 is at the correspondingend of its stroke.

of full opening from the initial cracked position position shown, the piston 9 being intermediately whenever steam is initially supplied to either end of the cylinder 8. While the valve is balanced by equal static pressure on the surfaces 26 and 21, it is also, as already pointed out, free to move, and the cracking of this valve to partly open position causing the steam to blow rapidly through the port l5 or It applies a velocity pressure or impact to the surface 28 or 21 whichever happens to be adjacent the opening depending upon which port is being opened, causing the valve to move instantaneously to full open position. The description of this operation is based on the observation of actual tests of the apparatus which has been variously installed. This instantaneous opening of the intake valve to the steam cylinder gives extremely accurate timing of the steam piston and ram in accordance with the motion of the hydraulic piston, the sole function of which is as a timing device.

Following such movement of the valve 34, the piston 32 is moved to the right occupying an interval to move the length of the cylinder which is determined by the throttle adjustment at 4'1, said interval being the element of operation regulated by the hydraulic device. Near the end of this stroke of the hydraulic piston, the steam valve 2| of the stoker motor or steam cylinder is moved clockwise, the port I 6 being opened for admission and the port l5 connected to the exhaust so that steam is admitted at the right hand end of cylinder 8 and exhausted from the left hand end of said cylinder, the piston 9 and ram l moving to the left, the length of the interval between ram strokes as aforesaid having been, determined by the time element of the hydraulic piston 32 in moving from one end to the other of its cylinder, in the present apparatus, in the opposite direction to that of the piston 9.

The valve lever 50 may be disconnected from the link 58 permitting the hydraulic valve 34 to be moved by hand to reverse the ram in case the fuel becomes cramped in front of the ram or for any other reason a single reverse and forward stroke being ordinarily sufficient to remove any such obstruction. When this operation has been performed, the lever 58 which is manually engaged at its left hand end is dropped and the notch 57 automatically engages the pin 56. When it is desired to operate the ram independently of the hydraulic control as when it becomes desirable to introduce quickly an excess amount of fuel as in starting or in banking or for any other reason or in case there is a failure of the supply of hydraulic fluid, the plate 83 is raised releasing the shoulder 8! of pin T! by way of the opening 85, the pin 17 is then withdrawn, releasing the steam valve from the hydraulic control for this purpose.

Important advantages of the invention are found in the use of steam power for actuating a ram motor or stoker motor, particularly in steam plants where steam for this purpose is available at practically no cost, the hydraulic fluid being in all instances easily available either from the mains or by pumping at constant pressure. Hydraulic timing of steam power gives accurate timing of the intervals between strokes which is not otherwise easily accomplished when steam is used as a motive power due to the frequent fluctuations of steam pressure in practically all steam power plants. Other advantages of great importance are found in the simplicity and cheapness of the apparatus both in the original installation and in the absence of expense in maintenance and in the fact that the necessity for attention is rehydraulic control and said hydraulic control, the

description being specific and in detail in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating, and using the invention may be fully understood, however, the details described herein are capable of wide variation without departure from the spirit of the invention, various features of the invention being capable of use independently of others included in the installation described and further the specific terms contained in the de-'- scription are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a reciprocating steam engine having a fuel feeding ram connected to said steam engine to be operated thereby, the steam engine having valve means for controlling the admission of steam to and determining the strokes of the steam engine, of a hydraulic motor having motor valve means connected to said steam engine to be opened and closed at predetermined points in the stroke of said engine to control said hydraulic motor, said motor being connected to said steam engine valve means to operate the same to control the length of the time intervals between strokes of the steam engine and means for adjusting the flow of hydraulic fluid to said .motor valve means, in which the connections operating said hydraulic valve has a lost motion device immediately adjacent said valve providing for motion of said valve in either direction relatively to said operating connections and means for adjusting said lost motion adapted to reduce or increase said lost motion at each end of said lost motion independently of the other and to regulate the operation of the hydraulic valve means, whereby it may be caused to open at any predetermined point near or at the end of the stroke of the ram actuating piston and adjusted to give a full stroke of both pistons.

2. The combination with a reciprocating steam engine, a fuel feeding ram connected to said steam engine to be operated thereby, the steam engine having valve means controlling the admission of steam to and determining the stroke of the steam engine, of a hydraulic motor having motor valve means connected to said steam engine to be opened and closed at predetermined points in the stroke of said engine to control said hydraulic motor, said motor being connected to said steam engine valve means to operate the same to control the length of the time intervals between strokes of the steam engine and means for adjusting the flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor valve means, in which the steam valve means is pivotally mounted and adapted to be moved by the action of the steam entering the said valve and in which said valve means has a lost motion device in said connection permitting said valve means to advance freely whereby itis caused to move instantaneously to full open position by the operation of the steam when it is first cracked forthe admission of steam giving a full opening of the valve means for the entire stroke of the piston and ram.

. 3. A fluid pressure motor, having valve means,

a fuel feeding ram operated thereby and a hydraulic motor connected to the valve means to operate the same to give timed intervals between strokes of said first mentioned motor and the hydraulic motor having a valve operated by said fiuid pressure motor, the connection from the ram and its motor to the hydraulic valve comprising a swinging link having a releasable connection to said valve,,the link being manually controlled to operate said release and the hydraulic valve have ing means whereby it is manually operated to reverse the ram when thus released. 7

4. The combination with a reciprocating steam engine and stoking means for a furnace connected to said steam engine to be operated thereby, of

a steam engine valve means controlling the ad-,

mission of steam to the steam engine, a hydraulic motor of the reciprocating type having motor valvemeans connected to said steam engine to be opened and closed at predetermined points in the stroke of the said engine to control said hydraulic motor, said motor being connected to said steam engine valve means, to operate the same and to control thelength of time intervals between the strokes of the steam engine,-,-means for adjusting the flow of fluid .to said hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor valve means having a dog secured thereto to move therewith and to operate said latter valve means, the connection to the steam engine comprising a member reciprocated by said steam engine and having means engaging said dog and adjustable in the direction of the motion of .saiddog and mounted on said reciprocating means to operate the dog and said hydraulic valve means, whereby said hydraulic valve operating connection is adjusted to operate the valve at predetermined points at or near the ends of the stroke of the steam piston.

5. The combination with a reciprocating steam engine and stoking means for a furnace connected to said steam engine to be operated thereby, of a steam engine valve means controlling the admission of steam to the steam engine, a hydraulic motor of the reciprocating type having hydraulic motor valve means connected to said steam engine to be opened and closed at predetermined points in the stroke of the said engine to control said hydraulic motor, said motor being connected to said steam engine valve means, to operate the same and to control the length of time intervals between the strokes of the steam engine, means for adjusting the flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor, the hydraulic valve means having a dog secured thereto to move therewith and to operate the hydraulic motor valve means and the connection from said valve to the steam engine comprising a member reciprocated by said engine and having means engaging the dog from both sides adjustable in the direction of the motion of said dog and mounted on said reciprocating means whereby said hydraulic valve is adjusted to operate at predetermined points at or near ends of the stroke of the steam engine connected thereto.

6. A reciprocating steam motor, valve means therefor determining the strokes of said motor, stoking means operated thereby and a hydraulic control motor having a connection to said valve means to operate the same at a predetermined point in each cycle of said hydraulic motor to measure time elements having predetermined timed intervals between strokes of said first mentionedmotor, thehydraulic motor having valve means-connected-to and operated by said steam motor, the hydraulic valve means having a 10st motion relatively to said connection providing for instantaneous opening of said valve by hydraulic pressure said hydraulic valve being pivotally mounted and having pivotal means for operating the sameproviding the said lost motion, the hydraulic valve means being adapted to be moved by the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough,.and being free to move from cracked position in the direction of opening to full open position.

.7. A reciprocating steam motor, valve means therefor determining the strokes of said motor stoking means operated thereby and a hydraulic control motorhaving a connection to said valve means to operate the same at a predetermined point in each cycle of said hydraulic motor to measure time elements having predetermined timed intervals. between strokes of said first mentioned motor, the hydraulic motor having valve means connected to and operated by said steam ing from said cracked position in response to the steam pressure.

8. A reciprocating steam motor, valve means therefor determining the strokes of said motor,

stoking means operated thereby and a hydraulic control motor having a connection to said valve means to operate the same at a predetermined point in each cycle of said hydraulic motor to measure time elements having predetermined timed intervals between strokes of said first mentioned motor, the hydraulic motor having valve means connected to and operated by said steam motor, in which the hydraulic valve means has a lost motion relatively to said connection and is otherwise free tomove and adapted to move from the initial cracked position to full open position due to the flow of the hydraulic fluid through said valve providing for instantaneous opening of said valve by hydraulic pressure when cracked open and adjusting means for changing said lost motion to time the valve.

9. A reciprocating steam motor, valve means therefor determining the strokes of said motor, stoking means operated thereby and a hydraulic control motor having a connectionto said valve means to operate the same at a predetermined point in each cycle of said hydraulic motor to measure time elements giving predetermined timed intervals between strokes of said first men tioned motor the hydraulic motor having valve means connected to and operated by said steam motor, the connection from the hydraulic motor valve to the steam motor having releasing means and hand operating means therefor permitting said valve to be moved by hand to reverse the steam motor and the stoker independently of the time element of said hydraulic control.

10. A reciprocating steam motor, valve means therefor determining'the strokes of said motor, stoking means operated thereby, a hydraulic control motor connected to said valve means to operate the same at a predetermined point in each cycle of said hydraulic motor, giving accurately measured timed intervals between strokes of said steam motor, the steam motor valve having a lost motion device in its connection to the hydraulic control motor providing for instantaneous full opening of the said steam motor valve which is thus free to move separately from said connection to full open position from cracked position and being thus adapted to move in response to the flow of steam through said valve.

11. A reciprocating steam motor, valve means therefor determining the strokes of said motor, stoking means operated thereby, a hydraulic control motor connected to said valve means to operate the same at a predetermined point in each cycle of said hydraulic motor, giving accurately measured timed intervals between strokes of said steam motor, the hydraulic control motor having a hydraulic motor valve with connections to said steam motor to be operated thereby near the ends of the stroke of the steam motor said connections including a lost motion device and an adjustment for said lost motion device adapted to increase or reduce said lost motion at each end of said lost motion for timing the hydraulic motor valve to operate at or near the ends of the stroke of the steam motor, the hydraulic motor valve being free to move relatively to said connections to take up said lost motion and adapted to move to full open position in response to the flow of hydraulic fluid through said valve, the lost motion device being immediately adjacent said valve.

12. The combination with a reciprocatingsteam engine of a ram connected to said steam engine to be operated thereby, of steam engine valve means controlling the admission of steam to and determining the strokes of the steam engine, and a hydraulic motor having motor valve means connected to said steam engine to be opened and closed at pre-determined points in the stroke of said engine to control said hydraulic motor, said motor being connected to said steam engine valve means to operate the same to control the length of a time interval between the strokes of the steam engine, and means for adjusting the flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor valve, the valve connections for both the hydraulic motor and the steam engine comprising a lost motion device immediately adjacent the valve, whereby the steam valve is free to move in the direction of opening in advance of said connections, and said steam valve when cracked in opening is moved to open position'by the action of the steam passing therethrough, the hydraulic valve con' nections having means for adjusting the extent of the lost motion to increase or reduce the lost motion at each end of the lost motion to time the valve, determining the length of the ram stroke.

13. The combination with a reciprocating steam engine and a ram connected to said steam engine to be operated thereby, of steam engine valve means controlling the admission of steam to and determining the strokes of the steam engine, and a hydraulic motor having motor valve means connected to said steam engine to be opened and closed at predetermined points in the stroke of said engine to control said hydraulic motor, said motor being connected to said steam engine valve means to operate the same to control the length of the time intervals between strokes of the steam engine, and means for adjusting the flow of hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic motor valve, the

connection of the hydraulic motor valve means to the steam engine comprising a releasing device for disconnecting said hydraulic valve, making it capable of operation by hand to reverse the steam engine and the ram.

JAMES F. TURNER.

CHRISTIAN P. BREIDEN'BAUGH. 

